3107期高中基础音频 Learning and Living Traditional Culture After a three-year hiatus (中断), Li Ziqi is again posting delightful videos of her traditional lifestyle in the countryside. The 34-year-old was welcomed back by her millions of followers — both in China and around the world. Through her videos, they have come to discover the beauty and importance of traditional culture and how living in harmony with nature can calm their soul. Most of the people who watch Li’s videos live in big, noisy cities where life is convenient and everything they need can be easily bought. Li, however, shows that, with knowledge, skill and hard work, many of these things are available in nature. She makes clothes from silk that she weaves, furniture out of wood and bamboo, and, of course, food that she and her grandmother grow. Some of her most popular videos are about cooking using her grandmother’s recipes. Underlying (隐藏……之下) Li’s videos of self-sufficiency is a message that traditional culture is significant for a nation’s psychology (心理状态) and identity. Her videos provide a link to China’s long history and the values of Chinese society such as harmony, goodness, honesty, wisdom and filial piety (孝道). While you watch Li’s videos, you see that she demonstrates all these traditional values. The respect she shows for her grandmother is a good example of that. I think it’s a good sign that the younger generation is taking an interest in traditional Chinese culture. What’s more satisfying is that they’re breathing new life into it. Yan Hong, for example, is well-known for making exquisite Chinese-style accessories (配饰) out of simple materials such as aluminum cans (铝罐). “Chinese culture is profound (高深的). As a young designer, I have a duty to continue introducing it to more people around the world,” says the vlogger. Chuanzi, a suona player, has become popular online for combining modern electronic music with traditional folk music. He believes that the best way to inherit (继承) an intangible cultural legacy (非物质文化遗产), such as suona playing, is to combine it with today’s trends. I can’t agree more. The best way to preserve (保留) traditional culture is to live it — at least in some small way. You can learn skills such as playing folk music, cooking traditional meals and even practicing traditional ink and brush calligraphy (毛笔书法). Learning about traditional culture by watching videos, such as Li Ziqi’s, is good. “Living” traditional culture by acquiring a “hands-on” skill is even better. China’s Dream for the Sky Shone at Airshow China The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, from November 12 to 17. A total of 1,022 companies from 47 countries and re-gions participated in the six-day event. Up to 261 aircraft and 248 types of ground equipment were on display. Nearly 590,000 people attended the event. Business deals totaling around 285.6 billion yuan were signed at the exhibition. Some star products included the J-35A stealth fighter jet, J-15T fighter jet and HQ-19 surface-to-air missile weapon system. The cargo hold of the Y-20 aircraft was shown to the public. Unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ships also caught people’s attention. In addition, the exhibition covered some exciting new altitudes, from the far side of the Moon over 380,000 kilometers away to low-altitude airspace less than 1,000 meters above the ground. A sample of lunar soil was among the most notable items. It had been brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission. This 75-milligram piece highlighted China’s recent progress and international cooperation in space exploration. It is evidence that the country’s ancient dream came true. On November 15, China launched Tianzhou-8. The cargo craft now delivers supplies to the Tiangong space station. More options for space delivery are on the way. Among them is a new space cargo shuttle named Haolong. It was introduced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) at the airshow. According to the company, the shuttle could greatly cut the cost of transporting cargo to and from China’s space station. During the event, AVIC also tested its civil manned airship AS700. The airship had been on sale during China’s annual “Double 11” shopping spree on Taobao. A study had revealed strong public interest in the airship’s operations. Products like the AS700 will play an important role in the country’s growing low-altitude economy. Another shining example of China’s low-altitude aviation industry is a six-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Developed by Aerofugia, the AE200 is scheduled for manned test flights next year. It’s been only a little over a century since the Wright brothers flew the first airplane in 1903. A mere 66 years have passed since humans first stepped foot on the Moon. The 2024 China Airshow highlights China’s rapid progress in aerial exploration. A dream today could be tomorrow’s reality. Animals Deserve Gender Pronouns, Too If a cat or dog shares your home, I’ll venture a guess that you don’t refer to the four-footed family member who licks your face, naps in your lap and sleeps on your bed as “it.” You probably call them by a name and refer to them as “he” or “she” and various nicknames inspired by their personality and habits. But what about those animals not kept as pets? Our lives are closely connected with nonhuman animals in many ways. They’re part of some of the most important stories shaping our world right now. The scientific consensus (共识) is that nonhuman animals are conscious (有意识的) beings. That is to say, they are someone, not something. However, these animals are often described as though they might be nothing more than a couch when they’re referred to as “it,” “that” or “which.” That desperately needs to change. A group of more than 80 people interested in animal welfare (福利) have signed a letter calling on the editors of The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook to change their guidance. They demand that animals in news stories be identified as she/her/hers and he/him/his when their sex is known, regardless of species. When their sex is unknown, the gender-neutral (不分性别的) they/their, or he/she, or his/hers are recommended. News organizations often follow the guidance of The AP Stylebook, and the signatories (签署者) of this letter hope that articles covering animals in zoos, farms, forests, seas, and labs will recognize them as living beings who feel hunger, fear, happiness and pain. It would mean writing sentences like, “The rat was injected with the virus ...” or, “The deer was struck by the car ...” and he, she or they died — not it. Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit and other best-selling books, told us that if we don’t refer to animals in personal terms, we open ourselves to abuse (虐待) and neglect. “People and animals share the capacity to feel,” she says. “We form a beautiful, close relationship with them, and we justly place animals on a moral plane (道德层面) alongside ourselves, far above that of the cinder block or the hubcap, the things we call ‘it.’” To sum up, our words really matter. Referring to animals in personal terms may help us recognize how much we share. Why not normalize inclusive language (包容性语言) for all beings who are able to feel and end their objectification (物化)?
